Jan Szurmiej “Abe, the pickpocket” (Avreyml marvikher,) with transliteration and translation

Morfechai Gebirtig
די דיכטער פֿון דעם חורבן
The poets of Holocaust

un a heym bin ikh ying geblibn
s'hot di noyt mikh aroys getribn
ven ikh hob nokh keyn draytsn yur gehat
in der fremd, vayt fin mames oygn
hot in shmuts mikh di gas dertsoygn
gevorn iz fin mir a voyler yat.
 
ikh bin avreyml der feykster marvikher
a groyser kinstler, kh'arbet laykht in zikher
dus ershte mul, kh'vel's gedenken bizn toyt
arayn in tfise far lak'khenen a broyt, oy, oy
kh'fur nisht oyf markn, vi yene proste yatn
kh'tsip nor bay karge, shmitsike magnatn
kh'bin zikh mekhaye ven kh'tap aza magnat
ikh bin avreyml, gur a voyler yat.
 
in der fremd, nisht gehat tsum lebn
gebetn broyt, an uremer flegt nokh geybn
nor yene layt vus zenen tumid zat
fleygn oft traybn mikh mit tsorn
s'vakst a ganev, s'iz mekiyem gevorn
a ganef bin ikh, nor a voyler yat.
 
ikh bin avreyml der feykster marvikher
a groyser kinstler, kh'arbet laykht in zikher
a yat a kleyner arayn in kitshement
aroys a mazik, a zeltener talent, oy, oy
kh'fur nisht oyf markn, vi yene proste yatn
kh'tsip nor bay karge, shmitsike magnatn
kh'hob lib a mentshn, a mildn a nash-brat
ikh bin avreyml gur a voyler yat.
 
shoyn nisht lang vet dus shpil gedoyrn
krank fin klep, gift fin tfise moyrn
nor eyn bakushe, kh'volt azoy gevolt
nukh mayn toyt in a tug a tribn
zol oyf mayn matseyve shteyn geshribn
mit oysyes groyse in fun gold:
 
du ligt avreyml der feykster marvikher
a mentsh a groyser geveyn volt fin im zikher
a mentsh a fayner mit harts, mit a gefil
a mentsh a reyner vi got aleyn nor vil, oy, oy
ven iber im volt gevakht a mames oygn
ven s'volt di fintstere gas im nisht dertsoygn
ven nokh als kind er a tatn volt gehat
du ligt avreyml, yener voyler yat.
 
 
Abe, the pickpocket
TRANSLATION
by Arye Menachem (LM) ©
***************************

As a kid, I left my own home.
Hunger drove me the streets to roam,
When I was old enough my shoes to tie.
Far, far away from my mother’s eyes,
Grew up with toughs under the skies,
And became a truly decent guy.
 
Hey, I am Abe, a master pickpocket,
A real artist for thrill and for profit.
My first time I’ll remember till I’m dead,
Locked up in jail for stealing loaf of bread.
I don’t do markets like a village hick.
I snatch from filthy rich and that’s my trick.
How great when I make some tycoon whine and cry!
Hey, I am Abe, a truly decent guy.
 
Outside I couldn’t make a living,
Begged for bread, only the poor were giving.
Those who always manage to get by
Chased me from everywhere
“A little thief”, they liked to curse and swear.
I am a thief but a truly decent guy.
 
Hey, I am Abe, a master pickpocket,
A real artist for thrill and for profit.
As poor little guy I went inside the jailhouse,
Out I came as a legend, a powerhouse.
I don’t do markets like a village hick.
I snatch from filthy rich and that’s my trick.
I like a person who is one of us.
Hey, I am Abe, one of those decent guys.
 
This game will someday soon come to end.
I’m sick, in prison youth misspent.
But one desire I have in this world.
When I go on my final way
I wish my tombstone to say,
With great, big letters and from gold:
 
Here rests Abe, a master pickpocket,
He could have been a great man, even a prophet,
A man of kindness, heart, virtue, steady hand,
A man who does only want the Lord commands.
If he was not far away from his mother’s eyes,
If he didn’t grow up with toughs under the skies,
If he had a dad when he was just a tike…
Here rests Abe, a truly decent guy

Видео Jan Szurmiej “Abe, the pickpocket” (Avreyml marvikher,) with transliteration and translation канала Yiddish Songs with Translation by Arye